Tamar Braxton & Ms. Evelyn Celebrate ‘Cooking Sessions’

Tamar Braxton and Ms. E aren’t just cooking; they’re connecting, healing, and serving up Black excellence with their new CLEO TV show, and BOSSIP has all the deets!

Atlanta’s The Garden Room recently hosted a premiere for Cooking Sessions With Tamar & Ms. E, which will air on CLEO TV on March 26 at 9 PM ET/CT.

Based on the energy at the premiere, the series is poised to be a hit.

Tamar echoed that sentiment to BOSSIP while also sharing details about her personal cooking sessions with her mom.

According to Tamar, viewers will learn about recipes that have been kept under wraps, like a personal favorite of hers. 

“My mother’s seafood blend—it’s been a family secret of ours for a long time. So it’s a big, big, big deal. It’s delicious and it’s also low carb!” said the stunning songstress.

But as much as CLEO TV’s Cooking Sessions is about food, it’s also about something deeper.

Tamar opened up about how filming the series has been a transformative experience for her and her mother.

“The chemistry and the love that we both share for each other, as well as cooking. Me and my mother being in the kitchen together has been healing for us,” she shared. “We’ve been able to have open conversations, hard conversations, and just heal through food.”

When I asked Ms. E about the most important lesson she’s passed down to Tamar—one we’ll see reflected in the show—her answer was simple but powerful.

 

“Just be yourself, always be yourself and who you are—absolutely.”

There’s nothing like a mother’s love! More gems like this can be expected when tuning in to the new series.

A Celebration of Food, Family & Black Excellence

The premiere was filled with familiar faces from across entertainment, television, and media, all showing love to the Braxton women. Michelle Rice, CLEO TV Chef Jernard Wells, Shereé Whitfield, Terrell Carter, LaTocha Scott, Derek J, Contessa Metcalfe, and more came out to support.

Terrell Carter, who has followed the Braxtons’ journey for years, made it clear he was here for the family’s latest venture. 

“First of all, I just love Tamar and their mom. I love the Braxtons, so I’m looking forward to seeing them win. Anything that they do, I’m excited about,” he said. “I gotta see if they can cook! I’ve heard through Trina that their mom can throw down—I’ma tell y’all the truth!”

Throughout the night, conversations about food and authenticity went hand in hand.

The stars in attendance embraced the venue’s aesthetic, donning ensembles that mirrored the lush, vibrant surroundings. Tamar herself looked stunning in a denim dress and red bottoms that showcased her confidence and style. 

One guest who particularly caught my eye was Melissa Knowles, whose colorful and eye-catching outfit stood out amidst the crowd. When I inquired about her outfit, she shared.

“It’s from this brand Afrm, a very body-con midi with thumb-holes dress! I paired it with neon orange pumps by Stewart Weitzman and my Yes Saint Laurent clutch, and the biggest thing: I’m rocking my natural hair! I did my big chop at 42, never seeing my natural hair until now because as a news anchor I had to maintain a certain look. My mother relaxed my hair for years.”

Her statement resonated deeply, highlighting the pressures faced by women in broadcast television to conform to certain standards—pressures that Tamar and Ms. E have also navigated in their careers.

Knowles’ relationship with her mother, and the influence it had on her personal journey, mirrors the dynamic between Tamar and Ms. E, adding another layer of relatability to the evening’s theme.

When I asked her what she thought Cooking Sessions would bring to audiences, she saw something beyond the food.

“Authenticity. I think what’s going to come out of Cooking Sessions with Tamar & Ms. E is the authentic relationship between the two of them that we haven’t always seen because you can’t hide it when you’re cooking,” she explained. “Cooking is an intimate practice and experience, and when you’re doing it with someone you love? There’s a passion behind that, there’s a purpose. I believe we’ll see a richness in their shared experience.”

We love learning from women in broadcast media who primarily filled the room during the event.

More on the flip!

CLEO TV’s Moment & A CNN Shoutout

During the Q&A session at the premiere, Michelle Rice, President of TV One and CLEO TV, emphasized why Cooking Sessions is bigger than just a TV show and is actually a part of a movement to preserve and elevate Black culture at our parent company, Urban One.

“Urban One, our parent company, was founded by a Black woman, Cathy Hughes, 44 years ago. So it is in our DNA to tell our stories,” Rice stated. “More than ever, we should understand the importance of sharing our traditions, heritage, and culture, as people are trying to take that away from us. These ladies are truly the embodiment of the vision of CLEO TV. They are Black Excellence and they are amazing.”

The impact of Cooking Sessions is already being felt beyond the premiere.

 

Rochelle Brown, Co-founder of Powerhouse Productions, pointed out a major media moment that had just happened. 

“They just got an amazing write-up on CNN. This is when you know they’re watching us,” she noted. “What I love about this series is that Tamar and Ms. E are unapologetically who they are. They’re not pretending to be chefs. They’ve grown up in a house where Ms. E cooked for her children and provided for her children, and now they’re doing the same for their own. Which is a blessing to see them do that on a show with joy, humor, and d*mn good food.”

Cooking Sessions with Tamar & Ms. E isn’t just about throwing ingredients together. It’s about storytelling, culture, and love passed down through generations as well as lessons she’s learned from Ms. E, amid their mother/daughter bond.

Whether you’re tuning in for the recipes, the laughs, or the inevitable moments of shade, one thing’s for sure, Cooking Sessions with Tamar & Ms. E is serving up soul, seasoning, and something special.

Make sure to catch the premiere on March 26 at 9 PM ET/CT on CLEO TV.